Just a Conservative musing, raving, and joking

Open Letter to Meghan McCain

For the last couple of weeks I have been on the sidelines, listening to you. It is a shame that you decided to pick a fight with two of the most outspoken women in the Conservative Movement. While this has added publicity for you, it has not been good for either the movement, or Republicans in general. What is also a shame was Laura Ingram’s “plus sized ” comment. She should have been more professional. However, politics has never been a clean sport. Even early presidential races were filled with invective and personal slurs, some, would make modern politicians blush. If you intend to play in this sandbox, I recommend you grow a thick skin.

It is not my intent to patronize you, or vent hostility. Quite the contrary, I would like to help you understand a world to which you are obviously new. You, and those like you, might one day be leaders in the Republican party, and I do appreciate your willingness to be a voice for us. However, unless you understand and support Conservatism, most Republicans will reject you out of hand. So far, you have not been a voice for Conservatism, but instead a voice for those who would distort and neglect our principles in an attempt to win elections or “get along” with the other side.

Meghan, this is first and foremost, an ideological battle. The ideals and principles of those on the Left and Right are absolutely incompatible. At one time, they might have been, but that ship sailed well over 80 years ago. I will not try to convince you which one is the correct ideology, that is a decision every American must make for themselves. I will merely frame our ideals, and leave the rest to you.

American Conservatism’s First Principle, if there ever was one, is Liberty for the citizens of this wonderful country. The freedom to make the most of one’s God given talents and abilities. The freedom to be left alone if desired. The freedom to make the best choices for one’s self and family. Everything else hangs on this First Principle. But it is not enough to define this principle, you must realize from where Liberty springs. It comes directly from our Creator. If there is not a God above government, then there is no true Liberty, freedom can be taken away with the stroke of a pen.

Our Constitution was written in a way that acknowledges this fact. It then defines that our freedoms belong to all of us by virtue of our Creation. It further defines the powers of government are only what has been granted to it by the governed, and its chief purpose is to defend the freedoms of the individual, and defend them equally. That said, the first question of any law is therefore “does this make all individuals more free, or less free.” The default position should always be – more free. Everything Conservatives fight for can be broken down into the answers to that question.

‘Fairness’, or achieving equal outcomes, is not an authorized function of our government. The people never gave it that power. However, our government has taken it, by subterfuge in most cases and by force in some. In the over two centuries since our country’s founding, government has grown, chipping away little by little at our freedoms to allow it enough space to expand. And all for the proposed purpose of achieving ‘fairness’. We are all taught from a young age that life is not fair. Believing that fairness can be legislated is simply a fantasy of the politically immature. At no time the long history of our species has this ever been accomplished, though countless regimes have tried. It cannot be done.

The only fairness which can be achieved is through equality of opportunity, and equality of justice. Our country has made countless mistakes on these two points, but slow and sure progress has come. Our economic system is based upon balancing these two ideals. Not everyone will become wealthy. It is either through lack of drive, or lack of talent, that economic fortunes are separated. There are those who became wealthy by cheating their fellow man. It is up to the justice system to punish those responsible. No one should achieve a higher status in this country by trampling upon the rights of others. And if justice never comes in this life, the final judge is God. But there are those who believe that if a person became wealthy, they must have done it by trampling upon the rights of others. This is a mistaken assumption and cannot be tolerated in a free society.

There are those who, for whatever reason, lack the ability to earn a living for themselves. Conservatives believe it is the duty of their community to care for them. If their community cannot, then the larger entity of the city, then county, and so on. The assistance should not come from the federal government except as a last resort. A distant government simply cannot know how to best help the individual who is in need. It is the proverbial cannon being used as a fly-swatter.

It is not the duty of government to educate our youth. It is only the duty of government to ensure that the states, and local education facilities, treat the individual equally. It is not the duty of government to ensure funding for artistic endeavors, that is what philanthropists do with their own money. It is not the duty of government to provide funding for scientific research, except with the possible exception of military use. That is the realm of private investment. It is not the duty of government to control banking, or Wall Street. Only to ensure equal treatment of the individual and protect their rights.

These are but a few examples. Our government has overstepped its intended role for so long, that we, as a people, have forgotten how true freedom tastes. The intention of the Founder’s was to make the Federal Government something that rarely, if ever, entered our daily lives. At this point in time, it is rarely that the Federal Government does not make its presence, and power known. This is our fight, this is our reason for blogging, or protesting, or voting. Conservatives such as Laura Ingram and Ann Coulter, have given their lives to this fight. They are two of our better front line soldiers. Others would include Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, and Mark Levin. If you have ever met soldiers who have fought in a front line position, you know they do not have smooth edges. They are a bit rough and uncouth because of their arduous fight. We should appreciate their rough edges, and thank them – because in the end, they fight for all our freedoms.

If you would like to be a leader in the Conservative Movement, study our history – especially of the Founders, study economics, and study the law. If you agree with and hold fast to our ideals, you will be accepted as a Conservative. If you stand strong and fight for the freedom of all Americans, we will gladly accept you as a leader.